Ephesians 3:11 (YLT)

Passage

according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Nearby Context

Ephesians 3:9 and to cause all to see what <FI>is<Fi> the fellowship of the secret that hath been hid from the ages in God, who the all things did create by Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 3:10 that there might be made known now to the principalities and the authorities in the heavenly <FI>places<Fi> , through the assembly, the manifold wisdom of God,

Ephesians 3:11 according to a purpose of the ages, which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have the freedom and the access in confidence through the faith of him,

Ephesians 3:13 wherefore, I ask <FI>you<Fi> not to faint in my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "purpose", "ages", "christ", "jesus", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "purpose" and "ages", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "that there might be made known now..." into verse 12's "in whom we have the freedom and...", so "purpose" and "ages" belong inside that flow. In Ephesians context, the local focus is grace, union with Christ, the church, and new creation.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "purpose" and "ages" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.